42:1 And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat
more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot
understand--which is concerning the justice of God in the
punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that
it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a
state of misery.

42:2 Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing
unto thee. For behold, after the Lord God sent our first
parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the
ground, from whence they were taken--yea, he drew out the
man, and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden,
cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to
keep the tree of life--

Genesis 3:22-24 And the Lord
God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know
good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and
take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was
taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east
of the garden of Eden Cherubims,
and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the
way of the tree of life.

42:3 Now, we see that the man had become as God,
knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his
hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live
forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not
partake of the fruit--

42:4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted
unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to
repent and serve God.

42:5 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand
immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he would
have lived forever, according to the word of God, having
no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God
would have been void, and the great plan of salvation
would have been frustrated.

42:6 But behold, it was 1appointed unto man to die--therefore, as they
were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off
from the face of the earth--and man became lost forever,
yea, they became fallen man.

42:7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents
were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the
presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became
subjects to follow after their own will.

42:8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man
should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that
would destroy the great plan of happiness.

42:9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the
fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as
well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the
presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind
should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.

42:10 Therefore, as they had become 1carnal,
sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state
became a state for them to prepare; it became a
preparatory state.

42:11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for
the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they
were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from
the presence of the Lord.

42:12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from
this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself
because of his own disobedience;

42:13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of
redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions
of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea,
this preparatory state; for except it were for these
conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should
destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice
could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

42:14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen,
and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice
of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from
his presence.

42:15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought
about except an atonement should be made; therefore God
himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about
the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice,
that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God
also.

42:16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except
there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the
life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan
of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of
the soul.

42:17 Now, how could a man repent except he should
sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could
there be a law save there was a punishment?

42:18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just
law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

42:19 Now, if there was no law given--if a man
murdered he should die--would he be afraid he would die
if he should murder?

42:20 And also, if there was no law given against sin
men would not be afraid to sin.

42:21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned
what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would
have no claim upon the creature?

42:22 But there is a law given, and a punishment
affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance,
mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature
and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the
punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be
destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

42:23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy
claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the
atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the
resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the
dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus
they are restored into his presence, to be judged
according to their works, according to the law and
justice.

42:24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands,
and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus,
none but the truly penitent are saved.

42:25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?
I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease
to be God.

42:26 And thus God bringeth about his great and
eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation
of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the
redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.

42:27 Therefore, O my son, 1whosoever will come may come and partake of the
waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the
same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it
shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.

[1] Revelation 22:17: ...whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely.

42:28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not
repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto
him, according to the restoration of God.

42:29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let
these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins
trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down
unto repentance.

42:30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the
justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse
yourself in the least point because of your sins, by
denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of
God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway
in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in
humility.

42:31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to
preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy
way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou
mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan
of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto
you even according to my words. Amen.